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Topic Review (Newest First)

09-21-2012 09:26 AM

svHyLyte

Re: Thunderbirds

Quote:

Originally Posted by applecran

Hey Paul

Do you remember if the boat you were looking at was #1160? It's for sale in Pender Harbour and I'm interested but before I make the trip up I'm trying to see if anyone has seen it before.

Looking at the top picture on the right hand side. The white Tbird "Rev" is still sailed competitively, and does very well. The red one to the right, appears to be "Flair" out of my club, still raced, and does well. I have a fit with both at times, as we are in the same class. I have them by 5-10 secs, but they are always just in front for Rev, or either direction for flair. Rev is dry sailed, Flair is wet, ie always in the water. Flair way back finished in this magazines top 25 boats in Puget Sound with current owner.

Marty

12-30-2009 06:56 PM

svHyLyte

Paul--

Our first "real" sailboat (other than a dinghy) was a late 50's era T-Bird, home built of wood. It was a great sailing boat but a little tough for a novice sailor, at least on San San Francisco Bay. They are actually very sturdy boats if you are lucky enough to find one that has been well maintained; or, the boat you're looking at is made of Glass. If not, and not well cared for, you will find rot--virtually everywhere--under the cockpit; in the transom; and, particularly in the transverse floor beams carrying the keel. To some extent the yachts are "cult" boats as evidenced by the fact that, of late, Sperry has been using them as background for it's print adverts for boat shoes.

We gave up our T-Bird in the early 70's for another, much larger, classic yacht, a Rhodes Reliant, but I have often thought back to out T-Bird daze and occassionally ponder building another (we actually have an original set of the yacht's plans).

I was considering this one, Thunderbird sailboat looks in OK condition (not that you can tell from a photo but at least it's floating). Doesn't appear to be a motor but that's no biggie.

12-29-2009 10:16 AM

Faster

The T-Bird would be a great starter.. lots of them around, a wide range of pricing due to the availablilty of plywood and glass versions (I think the design was sponsored by plywood manufacturers back in the '50s) Wooden 'Birds are still winning major races in the fleet.

They are a good sailing boat, the class is strong still, esp in the PNW and in Victoria there would be lots of support and knowledge about.

There are several versions of fiberglass 'Birds; the original deck closely resembles the original wooden plans, then the Booth deck provided a bit more volume below, and the "Seattle" deck is a sleeker profile deck with accordingly less room below. Booth is probably still in business in some form or other in Victoria, check them out. (Booth Enterprises).

A few were built with wooden hulls married to fiberglass decks. I've sailed one of these, it recently sold up in Deep Bay. The wooden decks, of course, need careful attention if you're shopping one.

Prices will probably range from a few K to 15K or so for a real nice 'glass one.

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